IMS Group of Companies Names Dominik Berchtold CEO

By Trenchless Technology Staff June 16, 2026

The group of companies around IMS Trenchless, resinnovation, Polypipe, Amex Sanivar, Lateral Repairs, Kardiam, Hurricane and APEX CIPP Solutions, backed by private equity investor Apheon, announce the appointment of Dominik Berchtold as CEO.

“It’s all about the team. We are building this group as entrepreneurs, and everything we do starts with our partners – the installers and contractors in the field,” says Berchtold. “This is a unique opportunity: a solid, successful base built by entrepreneurs, Apheon as a committed long-term partner /investor, and the chance to forge the platform together, from the ground up. We will keep growing, and we will keep strengthening the team.”

Berchtold combines international leadership experience with deep roots in installer-driven industries. He has built a career across Europe the Americas and Asia, with seven years in aviation with Pilatus Aircraft followed by the past 18 years in the HVAC industry with Zehnder Group and Viessmann Climate Solutions, part of Carrier Global Corp.

His background is characterized by sectors that, like trenchless rehabilitation, are built on skilled trades, service and engineering. He pairs the discipline of large, established companies with an entrepreneurial, start-up mindset.

// ** Advertisement ** //

The group’s purpose is straightforward: protecting drinking water, safeguarding groundwater, and extending the life of critical infrastructure by ensuring that our customers have access to reliable products, service expertise, and technical support they need to successfully deliver rehabilitation projects of any complexity and keeping pipe rehabilitation affordable for homeowners. With Dominik on board and the group creates the base to scale this platform and to elevate its structures for the road ahead.

“It has always been my vision to become the most trusted global partner for customers in the trenchless pipe rehabilitation industry. Dominik will play a key role in driving this vision forward together with us,” says Ljubisa Zlatkovic, IMS founder. “With his experience and leadership, he will strengthen the alignment of our companies, unlock synergies across the organization, and further professionalize our growing international business.”

The platform around IMS Trenchless and Polypipe is growing across all its locations and will accelerate its growth through selective acquisitions to become the global leader in trenchless pipe rehabilitation.

// ** Advertisement ** //

“Our ambition is clear: long-term, profitable growth. Dominik is the right leader to take the platform to the next level and to drive our internationalization – particularly in the Americas and APAC,” notes statement from Apheon leadership. Apheon is a pan-European mid-market private equity investment company managing ~€4.5 billion of assets from select global institutional investors and families.

SOURCE – IMS Group